Waterproofing

The walls and the ground of a swimming pool are subject to constant water pressure. To enjoy your swimming pool it is important to have a permanent waterproofing.

WaterproofingWhile some observe that concrete applied by an expert at high levels of compressive strength will not leak, it’s true that concrete is naturally inclined to be porous. And when you add in the fact that most swimming pools include various penetrations – for inlet and return lines, skimmer throats, cleaning systems, lighting fixtures and more – the challenge of keeping water where it belongs becomes even greater.

Given all this, it is generally recognized that concrete shells must be sealed in some way to make certain they hold their water. As a consequence, selecting an approach to waterproofing is one of the most important steps in the construction of gunite, shotcrete or poured concrete swimming pools.

Shotcrete, “concrete”, and gunite are all basically the same product with variations in strength, inherent water-tightness, and methods of construction.

WaterproofingMost pools & spas are made using concrete, so it makes sense to use water proofing products that are similar to concrete in chemical composition. For that reason, it may be preferable to use cementitious products for waterproofing, because they bond better to concrete.

How is the product to be applied? Waterproofing agents are applied in one of two ways: by hand with trowels, brushes or rollers or by using sprayers. In our work, we’ve found that large surface areas and surfaces with regular contours and features are more quickly and economically waterproofed through use of spray equipment.

Read this article here from the AQURON Corp. for more information on why it’s important to waterproof your swimming pool during the construction phase.